Chapter 8
Ky was packing up when Ami arrived back at their room. She seemed to have forgotten all about what had happened at the photo shoot. Ami had noticed that no one seemed to remember any of the attacks. She figured that Kotanam had some ability to obscure what had happened.
"Going so soon?" she asked, sitting beside her friend.
"Yeah. My plane's in an hour. You played well today."
"Thanks Ky. Will you write?"
"If I can," she replied reluctantly. Ky looked up. Ami frowned, puzzled, as Ky went back to her work. If she could? What was that supposed to mean.
Ky was all ready to go.
"Thank you, Ami," Ky said softly. Ky hugged her tightly. Ami returned the hug. Ky sniffled back a tear.
"You've really helped me, Ames. Goodbye. I wish you a good life." Without another word, Ky headed off down the hall.
"Goodbye, Ky!" Ami called out. It was only then, as Ky disappeared into the elevator, that Ami realized that she never asked Ky for her address, and Ky had never asked for hers. Ami sighed. "Goodbye, Ky." Ami then started to pack up her things. She would not leave for another twenty four hours, but there was no reason for her to keep out her chess set. That's when she noticed it. Sitting on her pillow was the white queen of Ky's chess set, next to a note. Ami picked it up and examined it. Her hands shook and she nearly dropped it in surprise. The queen had changed. It now looked like a crystal version of the Moon Princess, holding the Moon Scepter over her head. Ami picked up the note.
"Dear Ami," she read aloud, "this is my gift to you. You helped me through a really rough time, and I wanted you to know that. Keep this close to your heart. You will always have a place in mine. Ky. . . ."
Ami realized that she was crying. Somehow she had become close friends with Ky. She never would have guessed it, but Ky was really a good friend. Ami was going to miss her.
******************************************************************************** ******** * * * **
She looked over the five friends, in their four homes. Everything had to be perfect. She had to force the Princess into revealing herself. She tried to picture the Senshi in her mind, but could only draw a blank. She silently cursed the magic that hid the identities of Senshis as she praised it as well. After all, it just wouldn't do for the Princess to realize that she was being watched.
She took a long time trying to choose. She settled on the Princess' s best friend and her cousin. That would provide her with the access she needed. They would be easy to manipulate. She landed softly on the roof.
"Reality Buster," she whispered. Dark energy snaked out of her staff, covering the household and everyone within it. She then floated back up toward the portal.
"You will be aid us, Princess. Whatever it takes, you will serve our cause." Then she let the portal take her back.
